DISCHARGE

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does discharge mean? 

• DISCHARGE (noun)
  The noun DISCHARGE has 9 senses:

1. the sudden giving off of energy

2. the act of venting

3. a substance that is emitted or released

4. any of several bodily processes by which substances go out of the body

5. electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field

6. the pouring forth of a fluid

7. the termination of someone's employment (leaving them free to depart)

8. a formal written statement of relinquishment

9. the act of discharging a gun

  Familiarity information: DISCHARGE used as a noun is familiar.

• DISCHARGE (verb)
  The verb DISCHARGE has 11 senses:

1. complete or carry out

2. pour forth or release

3. free from obligations or duties

4. remove the charge from

5. go off or discharge

6. pronounce not guilty of criminal charges

7. eliminate (a substance)

8. remove (cargo, people, etc.) from and leave

9. cause to go off

10. release from military service

11. become empty or void of its content

  Familiarity information: DISCHARGE used as a verb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DISCHARGE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The sudden giving off of energy

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("discharge" is a kind of...):

happening; natural event; occurrence; occurrent (an event that happens)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "discharge"):

electrical discharge (a discharge of electricity)

blowup; detonation; explosion (a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction)

eruption; volcanic eruption (the sudden occurrence of a violent discharge of steam and volcanic material)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of venting

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

discharge; venting

Hypernyms ("discharge" is a kind of...):

emanation; emission (the act of emitting; causing to flow forth)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A substance that is emitted or released

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

discharge; emission

Hypernyms ("discharge" is a kind of...):

material; stuff (the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "discharge"):

exudate; exudation (a substance that oozes out from plant pores)

transudate; transudation (a substance that transudes)

effluvium (a foul-smelling outflow or vapor (especially a gaseous waste))

rheum (a watery discharge from the mucous membranes (especially from the eyes or nose))

vaginal discharge (discharge of secretions from the cervical glands of the vagina; normally clear or white)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Any of several bodily processes by which substances go out of the body

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Synonyms:

discharge; emission; expelling

Context example:

the discharge of pus

Hypernyms ("discharge" is a kind of...):

activity; bodily function; bodily process; body process (an organic process that takes place in the body)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "discharge"):

ejaculation (the discharge of semen in males)

elimination; evacuation; excreting; excretion; voiding (the bodily process of discharging waste matter)

catamenia; flow; menses; menstruation; menstruum; period (the monthly discharge of blood from the uterus of nonpregnant women from puberty to menopause)

Derivation:

discharge (eliminate (a substance))

Sense 5

Meaning:

Electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Synonyms:

arc; discharge; electric arc; electric discharge; spark

Hypernyms ("discharge" is a kind of...):

electrical conduction (the passage of electricity through a conductor)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "discharge"):

flashover (an unintended electric discharge (as over or around an insulator))

corona; corona discharge; corposant; electric glow; Saint Elmo's fire; Saint Elmo's light; Saint Ulmo's fire; Saint Ulmo's light; St. Elmo's fire (an electrical discharge accompanied by ionization of surrounding atmosphere)

brush discharge (discharge between electrodes creating visible streamers of ionized particles)

Sense 6

Meaning:

The pouring forth of a fluid

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

discharge; outpouring; run

Hypernyms ("discharge" is a kind of...):

flow; flowing (the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "discharge"):

jet; spirt; spurt; squirt (the occurrence of a sudden discharge (as of liquid))

escape; leak; leakage; outflow (the discharge of a fluid from some container)

Derivation:

discharge (pour forth or release)

Sense 7

Meaning:

The termination of someone's employment (leaving them free to depart)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

discharge; dismissal; dismission; firing; liberation; release; sack; sacking

Hypernyms ("discharge" is a kind of...):

conclusion; ending; termination (the act of ending something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "discharge"):

conge; congee (an abrupt and unceremonious dismissal)

removal (dismissal from office)

deactivation; inactivation (breaking up a military unit (by transfers or discharges))

honorable discharge (a discharge from the armed forces with a commendable record)

dishonorable discharge (a discharge from the armed forces for a grave offense (as sabotage or espionage or cowardice or murder))

Section Eight (a discharge from the US Army based on unfitness or character traits deemed undesirable)

superannuation (the act of discharging someone because of age (especially to cause someone to retire from service on a pension))

Derivation:

discharge (free from obligations or duties)

Sense 8

Meaning:

A formal written statement of relinquishment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

discharge; release; waiver

Hypernyms ("discharge" is a kind of...):

relinquishing; relinquishment (the act of giving up and abandoning a struggle or task etc.)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "discharge"):

exemption; granting immunity; immunity (an act exempting someone)

Derivation:

discharge (release from military service)

Sense 9

Meaning:

The act of discharging a gun

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

discharge; firing; firing off

Hypernyms ("discharge" is a kind of...):

shooting; shot (the act of firing a projectile)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "discharge"):

gun (the discharge of a firearm as signal or as a salute in military ceremonies)

Derivation:

discharge (cause to go off)

discharge (go off or discharge)

discharge (remove the charge from)

• DISCHARGE (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Complete or carry out

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

complete; discharge; dispatch

Context example:

discharge one's duties

Hypernyms (to "discharge" is one way to...):

accomplish; action; carry out; carry through; execute; fulfil; fulfill (put in effect)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Pour forth or release

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

discharge liquids

Hypernyms (to "discharge" is one way to...):

distribute; spread (distribute or disperse widely)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "discharge"):

eject; force out; squeeze out; squirt (cause to come out in a squirt)

disperse; dot; dust; scatter; sprinkle (distribute loosely)

play (discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream)

volley (discharge in, or as if in, a volley)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

discharge (the pouring forth of a fluid)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Free from obligations or duties

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

discharge; free

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "discharge"):

disinvest; divest (deprive of status or authority)

relieve; take over (free someone temporarily from his or her obligations)

cut (discharge from a group)

clear (free from payment of customs duties, as of a shipment)

cashier (discharge with dishonor, as in the army)

liberate; set free (grant freedom to)

disembroil; disentangle; disinvolve (free from involvement or entanglement)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

discharge (the termination of someone's employment (leaving them free to depart))

Sense 4

Meaning:

Remove the charge from

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "discharge" is one way to...):

remove; take; take away; withdraw (remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Antonym:

charge (fill or load to capacity)

Derivation:

discharge (the act of discharging a gun)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Go off or discharge

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

discharge; fire; go off

Context example:

The gun fired

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

discharge (the act of discharging a gun)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Pronounce not guilty of criminal charges

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

acquit; assoil; clear; discharge; exculpate; exonerate

Context example:

The suspect was cleared of the murder charges

Hypernyms (to "discharge" is one way to...):

judge; label; pronounce (pronounce judgment on)

"Discharge" entails doing...:

evaluate; judge; pass judgment (form a critical opinion of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "discharge"):

vindicate (clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting proof)

whitewash (exonerate by means of a perfunctory investigation or through biased presentation of data)

purge (clear of a charge)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody of something

Sentence example:

They want to discharge the prisoners

Sense 7

Meaning:

Eliminate (a substance)

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

discharge; eject; exhaust; expel; release

Context example:

the plant releases a gas

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "discharge"):

breathe; emit; pass off (expel (gases or odors))

fester; maturate; suppurate (ripen and generate pus)

eruct; spew; spew out (eject or send out in large quantities, also metaphorical)

bleed; hemorrhage; shed blood (lose blood from one's body)

egest; eliminate; excrete; pass (eliminate from the body)

abort (terminate a pregnancy by undergoing an abortion)

ejaculate (eject semen)

blow (free of obstruction by blowing air through)

cough out; cough up; expectorate; spit out; spit up (discharge (phlegm or sputum) from the lungs and out of the mouth)

ovulate (produce and discharge eggs)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

discharge (any of several bodily processes by which substances go out of the body)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Remove (cargo, people, etc.) from and leave

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

discharge; drop; drop off; put down; set down; unload

Context example:

drop off the passengers at the hotel

Hypernyms (to "discharge" is one way to...):

deliver (bring to a destination, make a delivery)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "discharge"):

wharf (discharge at a wharf)

air-drop (drop (an object) from the air; unload from a plane or helicopter)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 9

Meaning:

Cause to go off

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

discharge; fire

Context example:

fire a bullet

Cause:

discharge; fire; go off (go off or discharge)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "discharge"):

blast; shoot (fire a shot)

fusillade (attack with fusillade)

let drive; let fly; loose off (fire as from a gun)

pop (fire a weapon with a loud explosive noise)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

discharge (the act of discharging a gun)

Sense 10

Meaning:

Release from military service

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

discharge; muster out

Hypernyms (to "discharge" is one way to...):

let go; let go of; release; relinquish (release, as from one's grip)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "discharge"):

deactivate (remove from active military status or reassign)

demob; demobilise; demobilize (retire from military service)

demobilise; demobilize; inactivate (release from military service or remove from the active list of military service)

cannon (fire a cannon)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Antonym:

enlist (engage somebody to enter the army)

Derivation:

discharge (a formal written statement of relinquishment)

Sense 11

Meaning:

Become empty or void of its content

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

discharge; empty

Context example:

The room emptied

Hypernyms (to "discharge" is one way to...):

change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "discharge"):

flow away; flow off (flow off or away gradually)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

 Context examples 

I laboured hard at my book, without allowing it to interfere with the punctual discharge of my newspaper duties; and it came out and was very successful.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The Bypass Budget, which is specified in the National Cancer Act, describes the NCI's priorities and planning and guides NCI efforts in discharging its responsibilities as mandated.

(Bypass Budget, NCI Thesaurus)

Terminology associated with the discharge disposition codelist of the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC) Standard Data Tabulation Model (SDTM).

(CDISC SDTM Discharge Disposition Terminology, NCI Thesaurus)

The destination or circumstance at the time of discharge.

(CDISC SDTM Discharge Disposition Terminology, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

Signs and symptoms include headache, nasal discharge, swelling in the face, dizziness, and breathing difficulties.

(Chronic Ethmoidal Sinusitis, NCI Thesaurus)

After the latter the animal was ready to burst, and made so violent a discharge as was very offensive to me and my companion.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

And now both mangonels were at work from the galleys, but so covered and protected that, save at the moment of discharge, no glimpse could be caught of them.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Discharge across the cell membrane, into the intracellular space or ducts, of endogenous substances resulting from the activity of intact cells of glands, tissues, or organs.

(Cellular Secretion, NCI Thesaurus)

This is followed by a prolonged anti-adrenergic action which prevents further discharge of neurotransmitter from sympathetic nerve endings.

(Bretylium Tosylate, NCI Thesaurus)

A “miners’ meeting,” called on the spot, decided that the dog had sufficient provocation, and Buck was discharged.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)